How I Installed Seat Belts in my 1930 Model A Ford 45-B Rumble Seat

By Dennis Oberer, Oneida, Wisconsin or any extreme strain on the belt mounts. am neither an automotive nor a safety engineer. I The mounting bolts are believe seat belts improve passenger safety so I installed on 5-1/2 inch centers. them in my . The reader is responsible for his or I painted them tan for her own installation and assumes all risk. Neither this the photo but will paint magazine nor I am responsible for your installation and them same color black Iuse of these ideas. as the rest of the under- I believe that these instructions should work for any Model . A with a rumble seat; whether 28-29 or 30-31 and all , 4. Look at the photos and Passenger side, roadsters, cabriolets, etc. my installation will be obvious. view from under car My seatbelts were purchased from Wesco in Camarillo, Drilling the holes through the California. You can visit their website at www.wescoPerfor- rear body sill is easy for mance.com. I used belt Item LB-74 and in TAN21 color (my the center belt mounts. color choice). The lower pan under I used the longer belt as there is a bit of lost belt length as it the seat has to be cut passes through the crack between the upper and lower seats in away with a hack saw, the rumble and on to the connection at the rear body lower sill. sawzall, or whatever. These are non-retractor type and are available in various I then installed wiring other colors. I just didn’t think I would have room at the rear harness plastic protec- body corners for retractors. I put in only two pairs. tor around the open- If you want to carry three people, you will have to figure out ing so the raw metal how to get the center belt set installed. edges do not cut into In my humble opinion the rumble seat is a very danger- the belts. I put the out- ous place for ANYBODY to sit and I certainly will not side (tab end) belts of put my grandchildren in the seat belt set in the there except for slow and body corners and at an angle; so that they give a comfort- city street driving. A spin able “buckle up angle” across your lap. out or accident will likely 5. Not shown in the photo catapult ANYBODY that under the car is the is sitting in the rumble curved rumble spare tire seat unless they are well support, but it will fit belted in. I also show into place if you space how I installed a quick- the two bolts through the ly installed and removed body sill as I did. foam tube so that the area 6. Total installation only where the latch/drip rail sits is somewhat padded. The pre-slit took a couple hours. I had foam tubing is the kind that you wrap hot water lines with to my young grandson Seth keep the heat inside the pipes. jump into the rumble seat

1. Most people that are knowledgeable about this say to area the other day and he was eas- mount the seat/lap belt to the body sill and not the frame; ily able to buckle up and felt quite since the body on the A may pull loose in a head on or a comfortable with and without the glancing blow collision. You want the latched seat belt to required booster seat he has to use “come with you” rather than be anchored on the frame. If for some time yet. His only ques- anchored to the frame; then the belt can squeeze you as tion was “Papa, how do I talk to you the body moves and the seat belt remains anchored to the when you are driving?” frame. So, I guess I will be installing a 2. I used grade 8 size 7-1/16 NF bolts and nuts. They are roll down rear window someday available from the seat belt supplier in a kit or from your after all. local hardware store. 7. Be sure to tighten the grade 8 bolts 3. I used ¼ inch thick by 1-1/2 inch wide by 8 inch long flat and nuts and lock and flat washers steel bar stock to back up the mounting bolts at the side belt securely after you are satisfied mounts; to resist “pull through” in the event of a collision with the installation. Finished installation 12 The Restorer • September/October 2010